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Aware that the feds had denied millions of funding dollars to Western State Hospital due to the hospital’s failure to provide timely treatment for criminal defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial, I called Dr. Terrence Long, the head honcho at Western State hospital to request an interview to get a better picture of Todd Balzac. He had been committed to the forensic unit where criminals judged mentally incapacitated were housed.
“I knew Todd on a limited basis,” the psychiatrist said. “His psychiatrist, Bonita Lopez, is no longer with us. It’s hard to keep good psychiatrists. There are better opportunities elsewhere with fewer problems. I do have access to his records.” He briefly paused. “Are you treating him?”
“No, nothing like that. I’m working with the police depart
